Merkel, rival face off in German election debate

Chancellor Angela Merkel is to face her center-left rival in the only live televised debate of the campaign for Germany’s  22 September parliamentary election, with the challenger needing a good performance against the popular incumbent. 

Recent surveys have given Merkel’s conservative bloc a large lead over challenger Peer Steinbrueck’s Social Democrats and suggested that her current center-right coalition can hope to win re-election. 

They’ve also given her a big advantage in personal popularity. 

So far, Merkel’s center-left opponents have struggled to land any blows on her and she has largely ignored her challenger. But Sunday night’s 90-minute duel, broadcast live on several national channels, offers voters a chance to compare the candidates.